IP & Licensing Manager- KTT Team

Position Overview

ICFO is seeking an IP & Licensing Manager to join its KTT Team. This is a strategic, full-time position designed to strengthen ICFO’s intellectual property and licensing activities across all technological portfolios. The IP & Licensing Manager will provide dedicated expertise in IP strategy, portfolio management, and licensing, supporting informed strategic decision-making and enabling ICFO to protect, structure, and commercialize its intellectual assets in an increasingly complex deep-tech landscape. The position will report directly to the Head of KTT and will work in close coordination with KTT Innovation Managers, Business Developers, researchers, and internal and external legal and IP advisors.

This call is issued under the framework of the approved ICFO Public Employment Offer (OPO 2026), as approved by the ICFO Board of Trustees in January 19th 2026 and in accordance with Law 14/2011 on Science, Technology and Innovation, Law 9/2022 on the Catalan Science System, the Basic Statute of Public Employees (Royal Legislative Decree 5/2015 – EBEP), and Law 19/2014 on Transparency, Access to Public Information and Good Governance.

Key Responsibilities

IP Strategy and Portfolio Management

Develop and oversee ICFO’s institutional IP strategy, ensuring robust, cost-effective protection and portfolio-level value creation across research areas.

Support strategic decision-making on IP filing, continuation, and abandonment, providing structured recommendations to the Head of KTT in coordination with the relevant Innovation Managers.

Optimize resource allocation by identifying non-exploitable or low-strategic-value assets and proposing portfolio rationalization actions.

Provide support on the IP Strategy to European Projects and Strategic Initiatives including ICFO’s exploitable assets.

Monitor national and international developments in IP law and policy relevant to ICFO’s research domains and partnerships.

Licensing Strategy and Execution

Support and co-lead licensing negotiations with industrial partners and spin-offs, together with KTT Business Developers and Innovation Managers.

Develop standardized, technology-adapted licensing models and agreement templates (exclusive/non-exclusive, early- vs late-stage, spin-off vs industry), including IP valuation schemes.

Design quantitative frameworks and tools for royalty and fee structuring, improving transparency, predictability, and efficiency in negotiations.

Provide IP and licensing due diligence for industrial collaborations, EU projects, and spin-off creation.

Support long-term value capture and commercialization strategies aligned with ICFO’s public mission and market realities.

Operations, Efficiency, and Risk Management

Coordinate external patent attorneys and legal partners, ensuring best-fit expertise by technology domain and cost efficiency.

Lead public tenders for patent attorneys and periodically evaluate external IP service providers.

Maintain and further develop ICFO’s central IP database and reporting tools.

Promote digitalization, automation, and systematization of IP and licensing workflows.

Internal Capacity Building and Governance

Generate regular reports and KPIs on IP and licensing performance to support strategic planning and institutional oversight.

Provide internal guidelines, training sessions, and advisory support to researchers and KTT staff on IP and licensing topics.

Act as a central reference point for complex, high-risk, or cross-portfolio IP and licensing decisions.

Working model and governance

The IP & Licensing Manager will be fully integrated within the KTT Team and will report to the Head of KTT. Final decision-making authority on IP filing, continuation, licensing strategy, and asset disposition will remain with the Head of KTT. These decisions will be informed by structured recommendations jointly prepared by the IP & Licensing Manager and the relevant Innovation Manager, ensuring that legal, technical, market, and strategic considerations are consistently aligned. The role complements existing KTT functions, strengthening institutional decision-making while enabling Innovation Managers and Business Developers to focus on portfolio development, industry engagement, and strategic initiatives.

Why join us?

At ICFO, you will work at the interface of frontier science, technology, and innovation, contributing directly to the transformation of world-class research into real societal and economic impact. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape IP and licensing strategy at a leading international research institute, engage with cutting-edge deep-tech domains (photonics, quantum technologies, advanced materials, health), and work closely with top scientists, industry leaders, and innovation ecosystems.

ICFO offers a collaborative, intellectually stimulating environment, strong institutional commitment to innovation, and the opportunity to grow professionally while contributing to long-term strategic impact.

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Qualifications and Experience Required

Qualifications

A Master’s or PhD degree in Science, Engineering, Patent Law, or a related field.

Experience Required

The ideal candidate will have:

Proven experience in IP management, licensing, technology transfer, or innovation management in a research-driven or deep-tech environment.

Solid understanding of patent strategy, licensing models, and IP-related contractual frameworks.

Experience supporting or leading licensing negotiations and interacting with patent attorneys and legal teams.

Strong analytical, organizational, and strategic thinking skills.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with researchers, legal experts, and industrial partners.

High attention to detail, sense of responsibility, and proactive mindset.

Other competences that the candidate should have:

Experience with spin-offs, venture creation, or industrial collaborations.

Familiarity with IP management tools and databases.

Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Fluency in English; knowledge of Catalan and Spanish are a plus.

Motivation to contribute to institutional growth, innovation impact, and continuous improvement.

CONDITIONS

This is a full-time position.

The contract offered will be a permanent contract (contracte indefinit) linked to the approved Public Employment Offer (Oferta Pública d’Ocupació – OPO) of ICFO and governed by the applicable public-sector labor framework.

A probationary period of 6 months will apply, in accordance with ICFO’s internal labor regulations and the applicable public-sector labor framework.

A salary according to ICFO’s approved salary scales will be offered, commensurate with the level of the position and the candidate’s experience.

The selected candidate will join ICFO under a permanent contract and will benefit from ICFO’s attractive working conditions, including a hybrid work model, flexible working hours, and access to professional development opportunities.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

To apply, please submit:

your resume

a cover letter outlining your experience and motivation for the IP & Licensing Manager role

contact information for at least two professional references

Selection will include a pre-screening of applicants based on eligibility and experience, followed by an interview with a short list of candidates.

The selection process will follow open, transparent, and merit-based recruitment (OTM-R) principles. It will consist of:

1. Eligibility check of applications. 2. Assessment of merits (education, experience, and language) 3. Interview with shortlisted candidates

The Evaluation Committee will include at least three members and ensure gender balance and impartiality.

Each phase will be documented, and candidates will be notified of the outcome within 15 days of the interview.

DATA PROTECTION

In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and Organic Law 3/2018, ICFO informs applicants that their personal data will be processed exclusively for recruitment purposes.

Controller: Fundació ICFO – Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss 3, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona).

DPO: [email protected]

Legal basis: performance of a task in the public interest.

Rights: access, rectification, erasure, restriction, and opposition.

Supervisory authority: Catalan Data Protection Authority (APDCAT) https://apdcat.gencat.cat

All recruitment files will be retained in accordance with the Catalan public-sector archival retention schedule (DOGC 2117).

Reference: 1078
Application deadline: February 27, 2026

27th of February, 2026